It’s a good thing the people from Seattle Hospitality was around or else the streets of Seattle would be crawling (literally) with 5000+ librarians attending SLA 2008.

Somehow after a lively SLA Canadian reception at the Union Square Grill (open bar), a group of us made it onto the monorail and to the LexisNexis dessert party at the Music Experience Project next to the Space Needle. Along with another open bar, and an electrifying open forum (see above photo), there was also an excessive amount of dessert tables that would make Martha Stewart’s mouth drop (cheese cakes, eclaires, every type of cake, brownies, and of course fountains of chocholate foundue). The venue was quite amazing and “psychedelic” as we browsed through the exhibits throughout the night.

A sales rep from Elsevier, who we met at the SLA Canadian reception said, “hey, you got to stop by OUR party at the W Seattle hotel“. We thought, well, we were invited so WE HAVE TO GO! You have to love those vendor sales reps…..

Getting there from the Elsevier after party was a blurry experience (haven’t experienced that since undergrad). Again, thank goodness for Seattle Hospitality as we were herded to safer pastures. We actually did make it to the Elsevier after party. There was a great jazz band, a packed dance floor, and another open bar (think Studio 54).

Granted, being responsible and professional librarians, we had scheduled conference sessions to go to the next day. We effectively managed our time (not so much on our alcohol consumption) and by the end of the entertaining and dessert-filled evening, we pretty much made it back to our hotels by 11:45pm (stayed at Hotel Max – recommend it).

(An honourable mention to the”SLA Canadian entourage” of the night: Emma, Christina, Karen, Lise, and Kathy)

I missed it this year, but NEXT YEAR, I am hitting the legendary PAM Division party.

Northern Voice 2008

I must say, the organizers and the participants of these events are amazing and contagiously enthusiastic.

Northern Voice is a two-day, non-profit personal blogging and social media conference that’s being held at the Forestry Sciences Centre, 2424 Main Mall, UBC main campus, Vancouver, Canada on February 22-23, 2008. This is the 4th annual incarnation of this event, see the 2005, 2006 and 2007 websites for previous information.

Visit the web site to register now…

Sat, Nov 24, 2007 – Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
Rumi, the 13th century Sufi mystic, ended one of his fervent poems with a prophetic line: “Dazed by the marvels of love, our whirling endures.” Founded in his name, the Mevlevi Order has kept the tradition of “sema”, the whirling ritual, alive for centuries–2007 marks the 800th anniversary of sema culture. A precise choreography, a mesmerizing meditation in motion and a radiant quest for divine illumination set to sacred music, the whirling ritual is one of the world’s most exquisite spiritual ceremonies–and no one performs it better than the Whirling Dervishes of Turkey. Twirling 20-30 times a minute, their dance becomes a prayer and meditation that envelopes their audience. As an added highlight, the director of the Rumi Foundation, a 22nd generation granddaughter of Mevlana, will make a special presentation about Rumi’s life and message. Co-presented by Global Arts Concerts and the Chan Centre.